Shloka 9

त्रिशिरोवधः (The Slaying of Triśiras)

Araṇyakāṇḍa, Sarga 27

Devanagari script

आगच्छन्तं त्रिशिरसं राक्षसं प्रेक्ष्य राघवः। धनुषा प्रतिजग्राह विधुन्वन्सायकान् शितान्।।3.27.9।।

Transliteration

āgacchantaṃ triśirasaṃ rākṣasaṃ prekṣya rāghavaḥ | dhanuṣā pratijagrāha vidhunvan sāyakān śitān ||3.27.9||

Translation

三つの首をもつ羅刹トリシラスが迫るのを見て、ラाघヴァは弓を取り、鋭い矢を震わせて放つ備えを整え、攻めに立ち向かった。

Word by Word

• āgacchantam: approaching
• āgacchantam: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-gam (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Present Active Participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies rākṣasam/triśirasam

• triśirasam: Triśiras
• triśirasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triśiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• rākṣasam: the demon
• rākṣasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; in apposition to triśirasam

• prekṣya: having observed
• prekṣya: Kriyā (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having seen’

• rāghavaḥ: Rama (Rāghava)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• dhanuṣā: with the bow
• dhanuṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• pratijagrāha: took up/held ready
• pratijagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-grah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; ‘took up/held (in readiness)’

• vidhunvan: shaking
• vidhunvan: Karta (कर्ता; participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dhū (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Present Active Participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with rāghavaḥ

• sāyakān: arrows
• sāyakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• śitān: sharp
• śitān: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; qualifies sāyakān

Context

On seeing demon Trisira advancing towards him, Rama shook sharp arrows off his bow.

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Triśiras
• Rākṣasa
• Bow
• Arrows

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma here is protective readiness: Rāma responds to aggression with disciplined self-defense, not panic or cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

As Triśiras closes in, Rāma calmly arms himself and prepares a counterattack.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s composure and martial discipline—controlled readiness under threat.